Oscar vs. Flowerhorn -- opinions please!

[phreeflow]

I’ve seen plenty of people keep a flowerhorn in a 75. You could also opt for a shortbody flowerhorn if space is an issue. I’m partial to oscars and find them more endearing. They have lots of personality and flare angrily, pout in a corner, lay sideways on the gravel, rearrange tank furniture, etc. Flowerhorns are great but the ones I had were just glass bangers…all day long. While interactive, they didn’t do much else but chase fingers

 

[Trouser Cough]

A lot of them are aggressive glass bangers. Supposedly some that have FH enjoy touching their fish although I personally never counted that among my interests. Here's the video where I first was introduced to what some expect of their FH.

 

[punchiechip]

Yeah, as "cute" as that is...I don't really have a desire/need to pet my fish. No offense to those into it! Just not for me, necessarily.

Question about the oscars -- in a 100g, what smaller creatures could I put in there? Blue acaras have caught my eye but I'm also perfectly fine having an oscar solo in a 100g (so long as the fish would be happy solo). Another consideration is a mid-sized pleco as I love those guys. Or really any smaller (4" or so) schooling or shoaling fish...maybe rainbows?

Suggestions?

Also how crazy are they with plants? If I have some floaters or attach some types to rocks, are they likely to rip those up? Or do they more just uproot things?

 

[chopshop]

I've got floating plants in my FH tank, I got some 8" floating rings from the bay that hook on the sides, some plants get attacked if he thinks there is food there... but other than that floating plants are fine ..

 

[jjohnwm]

As much as I love Oscars, and as positive as I am that they are superior to Flowerhorns in every way that matters to an aquarist...I just couldn't bring myself to cram one into a 75-gallon even all by itself, much less with a handful of other fish. This thread starts out like so many others do: "I want a single large fish for my tank...but what others can I sneak in there with him?" What is with that?

Typically, these threads progress to asking what size would be big enough if the tank in question is too small. There's no hard and fast answer; if the tank is properly maintained and filtered, with adequate water changes, then a fish can be kept in a surprisingly small space...but that doesn't mean that it should be done, or that it will be easy, or that the fish will have a quality of life that the owner finds acceptable. You've got to decide if you can feel right about looking at the fish at its adult size...which can easily be 14 inches or more for an Oscar...in the tank you have.

Can you picture a foot-long-plus Oscar, maybe 8 inches tall and 3 inches wide...hovering pathetically in a 4-foot tank...and think that is a pleasant sight? I can't.

 

[Deadeye]

I wouldn’t even do the Oscar in a 100, they need a lot of cruising space and a 4 foot just wouldn’t cut it. Even my 9 inch dempsey uses every inch of a 125.

 

[Joshuakahan]

Hi everyone! Long time listener, first time caller.

I have an empty 75g I'm debating what to do with it. The plan is a solitary fish, however I can't decide between the oscar (which has been on my wish list for at least 20 years) or a flowerhorn (which I only recently discovered but they definitely moved immediately to the top of the "fish I'd like to own" list).

What are the pros/cons of each? I'd love opinions on which is the "better" fish and why! (no wrong answers!)

Also, the flowerhorn would 100% be by itself, but could I get away with adding something smaller (not "food" small but like a few inches, like acaras for example) with the oscar or are they equally as aggressive/territorial as the FH? I'm also not opposed to 2 oscars if that tank size is adequate and that's doable (if purchased together as juvies -- but also is that even a good idea, behavior-wise?).

Filtration will likely be 2 HOB'S of 100g capacity each in either corner. I might also throw in an airstone or sponge filter just for extra aeration.

And yes I know I can research some of this but nothing beats first had experience! Thanks for all of the input!

What are your long term plans? You could keep either in a 75 for a while, meaning probably a year minimum probably two plus. But at some point the Oscar will outgrow the 75 and the FH might. I’ve seen FH top out at 8-10” and I’ve also seen a 20” FH. Either would make a good wet pet, the FH is more of a glass banger and the Oscar is more of a begger

 

[punchiechip]

As much as I love Oscars, and as positive as I am that they are superior to Flowerhorns in every way that matters to an aquarist...I just couldn't bring myself to cram one into a 75-gallon even all by itself, much less with a handful of other fish. This thread starts out like so many others do: "I want a single large fish for my tank...but what others can I sneak in there with him?" What is with that?

Typically, these threads progress to asking what size would be big enough if the tank in question is too small. There's no hard and fast answer; if the tank is properly maintained and filtered, with adequate water changes, then a fish can be kept in a surprisingly small space...but that doesn't mean that it should be done, or that it will be easy, or that the fish will have a quality of life that the owner finds acceptable. You've got to decide if you can feel right about looking at the fish at its adult size...which can easily be 14 inches or more for an Oscar...in the tank you have.

Can you picture a foot-long-plus Oscar, maybe 8 inches tall and 3 inches wide...hovering pathetically in a 4-foot tank...and think that is a pleasant sight? I can't.

I suppose the reason why these threads are like that is because we're often newcomers to the world of large fish and landed here looking for answers of experience, NOT what the web says. The web also says a FH can been OK in a 55g, and a betta in a .5g bowl, etc. I didn't mean to ruffle feathers....

I'm not trying to sneak in anything into my tank. I truly want the best for my fish, and if s/he must be solo, that's fine! I want to know before I collect supplies and need to upgrade later. I'd rather just start 'em off right, not end up like so many that buy the fish the struggle to keep up with its growth. Also if you read more of my posts in this thread, I'm already sourcing a larger tank (min 100g), the 75 is now reserved for some other fish growing out.

What are your long term plans? You could keep either in a 75 for a while, meaning probably a year minimum probably two plus. But at some point the Oscar will outgrow the 75 and the FH might. I’ve seen FH top out at 8-10” and I’ve also seen a 20” FH. Either would make a good wet pet, the FH is more of a glass banger and the Oscar is more of a begger

Thanks so much. The plan is to have them live downstairs in our basement studio/office space long term. I'd really much rather start with what they need rather than upgrade down the road and try to figure out what to do with the extra tank. I'm not a huge fan of switching fish around, especially if they're doing well in their tank. Anyway I'm definitely hunting for a 100+ now.

 

[Joshuakahan]

I suppose the reason why these threads are like that is because we're often newcomers to the world of large fish and landed here looking for answers of experience, NOT what the web says. The web also says a FH can been OK in a 55g, and a betta in a .5g bowl, etc. I didn't mean to ruffle feathers....

I'm not trying to sneak in anything into my tank. I truly want the best for my fish, and if s/he must be solo, that's fine! I want to know before I collect supplies and need to upgrade later. I'd rather just start 'em off right, not end up like so many that buy the fish the struggle to keep up with its growth. Also if you read more of my posts in this thread, I'm already sourcing a larger tank (min 100g), the 75 is now reserved for some other fish growing out.



Thanks so much. The plan is to have them live downstairs in our basement studio/office space long term. I'd really much rather start with what they need rather than upgrade down the road and try to figure out what to do with the extra tank. I'm not a huge fan of switching fish around, especially if they're doing well in their tank. Anyway I'm definitely hunting for a 100+ now.

I think if you went with a 6 foot 125, you’d be good no matter which route you went. Since you’re new, I’d look at other cichlids and fish as well. There’s many really cool fish that are less known that you can keep in a 75 or a 125. Nothing wrong with your choices and they are both great, but since you seem to intend to be in this for the long hall, you don’t want to have the “‘damn, i wish i knew about that fish” syndrome which has happened to me many times

 

[punchiechip]

I think if you went with a 6 foot 125, you’d be good no matter which route you went. Since you’re new, I’d look at other cichlids and fish as well. There’s many really cool fish that are less known that you can keep in a 75 or a 125. Nothing wrong with your choices and they are both great, but since you seem to intend to be in this for the long hall, you don’t want to have the “‘damn, i wish i knew about that fish” syndrome which has happened to me many times

oh my gosh yes, definitely been in that boat!
That said you have me leaning toward oscar now just because I've wanted them for 20 years....I feel like if I've had it on my radar that long, I won't regret the purchase.